Doors, drawer fronts and like structures for cabinets, closets and furniture

ABSTRACT

A modular construction for rectangular doors, drawer fronts and like components of cabinets, closets, articles of furniture and the like is disclosed. Any such component includes a peripheral frame composed of four interlocked, preferably mitred, end butted side members, and a center panel or insert overlying the central opening of the frame and removably retained in place at the rear of the frame. The side members of the frame are injection molded of styrene or other suitable synthetic plastic material to basically identical constructions, each member being provided at one end thereof with an integral male connecting portion and at its other end with a matching recessed or female connecting portion to enable the four side members of the frame to be snapped together firmly at perfect right angles to each other. After assembly, the side members of the frame may be permanently cemented or bonded to one another at their junctures, and detachable back members may be screwed or otherwise secured to the back of the frame to assist in retaining the insert in place. All the structural units, i.e., the side and back members and the inserts, can be produced in a wide range of sizes. The invention thus makes it possible for a dealer to stock a relatively small selection of side members, inserts and back members of various sizes while yet being able to form therefrom a far larger number of combinations. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

United States Patent 1 1 Schwartz [111 3,826,551 [451 July 30, 1974 1 DOORS, DRAWER FRONTS AND LIKE STRUCTURES FOR CABINETS, CLOSETS AND FURNITURE [75] Inventor: Michael S. Schwartz, Great Neck,

[73] Assignee: Ariel Creative Corporation, New

York, NY.

22 Filed: Nov. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 304,369

[52] U.S. C1 312/140, 312/138, 312/204,

312/257 [51] Int. Cl..... A471 3/00, A47b 17/04, A47b 43/00 -[58] Field of Search 312/204, 257, 138, 111,

312/140, 36 H; 287/92 D, DIG. 2; 52/656, 475; 49/501, DIG. 2; 40/152, 154, 156

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 969,163 9/1910 Hunter 287/189.36 H 1,002,781 9/1911 Swart 287/l89.36 H 1,940,000 12/1933 Madsen 287/20.92 D

2,083,354 6/1937 Whittier 287/20.92 D 2,844,215 7/1958 Blank et a1 287/l89.36 H X 3,126,621 3/1964 Thieme et al.... 40/152 X 3,131,980 5/1964 Barney 312/204 3,177,989 4/1965 Di Chiaro.... 49/501 X 3,189,136 6/1965 Stickney 287/l89.36 H 3,289,341 12/1966 Howell 287/189.36 N 3,445,151 5/1969 Stefanakis 40/156 3,533,190 10/1970 Hilfinger et al 52/656 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,520,779 3/1968 France 40/152 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Norbert P. Holler [5 7] ABSTRACT A modular construction for rectangular doors, drawer fronts and like components of cabinets, closets, articles of furniture and the like is disclosed. Any such component includes a peripheral frame composed of four interlocked, preferably mitred, end butted side members, and a center panel or insert overlying the central opening of the frame and removably retained in place at the rear of the frame. The side members of the frame are injection molded of styrene or other suitable synthetic plastic material to basically identical constructions, each member being provided at one end thereof with an integral male connectingportion and at its other end with a matching recessed or female connecting portion to enable the four side members of the frame to be snapped together firmly at perfect right angles to each other. After assembly, the side members of the frame may be permanently cemented or bonded to one another at their junctures, and detachable back members may be screwed or otherwise secured to the back of the frame to assist in retaining the insert in place. All the structural units, i.e., the side and back members and the inserts, can be produced in a wide range of sizes. The invention thus makes it possible for a dealer to stock a relatively small selection of side members, inserts and back members of various sizes while yet being able to form therefrom a far larger number of combinations. This abstract is not to be taken either as a complete exposition or as a limitation of the present invention, however, the full nature and extent of the invention being discernible only by reference to and from the entire disclosure.

21 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures PAIENIED ULB 3.826.551

SHEET 2 [IF 6 :3 WI gMWM! P 1! 0 WWW Ali P140 do A I PATENTEDJUL30I974 SHEET 5 [IF 6 R w \WN my w i L a DOORS, DRAWER FRONTS AND LIKE STRUCTURES FOR CABINETS, CLOSETS AND FURNITURE This invention relates to the art of doors and drawer fronts for various types of structures in both residential and nonresidential establishments, such as kitchen and other cabinets, closets, and articles of furniture such as desks, chests, dressers, breakfronts, vanities and the like.

Vast numbers of doors and drawer fronts for commodes, dressers, chests, breakfronts, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, and like structures are manufactured annually, both for the original equipment manufacture (OEM) market and for the replacement market. As far as is known, at the present time such doors and drawer fronts are produced as complete entities and principally of wood, although to a certain extent the use of various synthetic plastics such as polyurethane foam and the like has of late gained some favor. Considering the bulkiness of doors and drawer fronts, it is, of course, obviously impossible for any dealer in this field to stock more than a limited number of such items at any one time. This creates difficulties, however, especially in the replacement market. Thus, a per son wishing to redecorate may find it difficult, if not impossible, to procure replacement doors and/or drawer fronts differing acceptably in design from his current components. The problem is particularly acute in the kitchen cabinet field, for example, where a tremendous variety of sizes of cabinets exists due to the fact that this industry has never adopted a standarized system of sizes. A dealer catering tothe replacement market for kitchen cabinet doors would at the present time have to stock a line of some 800 or more sizes of doors differing from each other in increments of no more than I inch in length and width, starting from approximately 8 inches X 8 inches all the way up to 24 inches X 32 inches, in order to be able to service the market adequately.

It is a principal object of the present invention, therefore, to provide means by which cabinet doors, drawer fronts and like furniture components in a large variety of sizes and designs can be made available without dealers being forced to stock correspondingly and inordinately large numbers of such components.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means to this end by which a relatively large number and selection of such doors, drawer fronts and like furniture components can be made available through the utilization of a relatively small number of precision manufactured parts capable of being assembled easily and rapidly even by relatively inexperienced persons.

Generally speaking, the present invention is directed to the production of furniture components as aforesaid in a modular form including an open-center rectangular frame composed of four interlocked side members, and a center panel or other insert releasably and thus replaceably secured to the back face of the frame. The implementation of the stated objectives of the invention is founded, however, on the provision of one basic constructional form for the entire range of sizes of the frame side members to be used.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a multiplicity of such frame side members of various sizes, all injection molded of styrene or other suitable synthetic plastic material which may be slightly foamed. Where conditions allow, structured or foam styrene may be used as the molding material. Each such side member has an integral projecting or male connecting portion at one end and a corresponding recess or female connecting portion at the other end, the male portion being provided, for example, with a plurality of apertures, and the female portion with a plurality of upstanding pins or studs adapted to be received in said apertures, so as to enable the abutting frame side members to be positively interlocked and fitted tightly to one another. Preferably, the side members will be mitred at their opposite ends, but they may, if desired, be square ended. Each side member further has means on its back face to locate the center panel or insert, which may be either a rigid member or a flexible curtain-like structure, properly with respect to the central opening of the frame. The front face of any such' rigid panel, which can be either injection molded or cast or otherwise formed of any suitable synthetic plastic material, and the front faces of all side members will, of course, bear suitable design'features. If desired, a multiplicity of corresponding back members may also be provided, each adapted to be removably secured to the back face of a respective frame side member so as to assist in retaining the insert in place thereon. The back members preferably are relatively thin plate-like elements and thus may be injection molded of high impact styrene.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a cabinet door constructed of modular elements in accordance with the basic principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the door'shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the frame of the door shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the complete door shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with some parts broken away to illustrate further details;

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of one side member constituting the basic structural unit of the door frame shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;

FIG. 5A is a view, similar to FIG. 5 of another frame side member somewhat modified from the one shown in FIG. 5 for use in a relatively small size frame;

FIG. 5B is a plan view of a back member designed for use with the side member shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 7 and 7A are sectional views taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 3 and show the two abutting frame side members in preassembly and post-assembly relation, respectively;

FIG. 13 is a view, similar to FIG. 9, of a frame corner joint with a slightly modified construction of the interlocking means;

FIG. 14 is a rear elevational view, similar to FIG. 4, of a door according to the presentinvention in which a curtain-type center panel or insert is used;

FIG. 15 is a perspective front view of a relatively narrow door, drawer front or like construction in which the frame utilizes both large side members such as that shown in FIG. 5 and small side members such as that shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 16 is a perspective front view of a multi-section door constructed of two or more interconnected smaller doors of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 4; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the construction shown in FIG. 16.

Referring now to the drawings in greater-detail, a single-section cabinet door 20 according to one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The door 20 comprises a rectangular frame 21 constituted of four side members 22 and a rigid center panel or insert 23 overlying the central opening 24 of the frame from the back side of the latter. The side members 22 are shown as being mitred and are interlocked in a manner to be more fully explained presently. The marginalregions of the insert 23 extend beyond the boundaries of the frame opening'24 but only over a part of the back faces of the side members 22. The insert is per se not affixed to the frame, however, being removably retained in place by means of four mitred back members 25 (see also FIGS. 8 and 10) which overlie the laterally outwardmost regions of the rear faces of the side members of the frame as well as the outermost peripheral regions of the insert and are rele'asably secured to the side members of the frame at the laterally outwardmost regions thereof by screws 26 inserted into the frame via.

three holes-27 in each back member and corresponding holes 28 in the side members.

In accordance with the present invention, subject to minor variations which will become evident as the description proceeds, the basic construction of all the frame side members 22 is the same irrespective of their size, and the same holds true for the back members 25. Referring now in particular to FIG. 5, it can be seen that at its back face each frame side member 22 has an upstanding flange 29 (see also FIGS. 6 to 9) at the longer longitudinal edge of the member, i.e., that edge ultimately to lie along the laterally outwardmost periphery of a frame including that side member. Between the flange 29 and the opposed shorter longitudinal edge of the side member 22, the back face of the latter presents two planar, parallel surfaces 30 and 31,

the height of the surface 30 (as viewed in the direction of the thickness dimension of the member) being intermediate the height of the flange and the height of the surface 31, so as to define a shoulder 32 perpendicular to both said surfaces. The height of the shoulder 32 is substantially equal to the thickness of the marginal region of the insert 23 so that, when the latter is in place, its rear face is coplanar with the surface 30. On the other hand, the height of the flange 29 above the surface 30 is substantially equal to the thickness of the back member 25, so that when the latter is in place, its rear face is coplanar with the top of the flange.

As clearly shown in FIG. 5, the mitred edges 33 and 34 of the frame side member 22 are undercut, in the one case (designated 33a) toward the front face of the member and in the other case (designated 34a) toward the back face thereof, for a purpose to be more fully explained presently. At the edge 33, the member 22 is provided with a projecting or male connecting portion 35 on which the surfaces 30 and 31 are continued, while at the edge 34 the member is provided with a corresponding recess or female connecting portion 36 into which the male connecting portion of an abutting frame side member can be fitted. The maleconnecting portion 35 and the portion of the mitred edge 33 contiguous to the shorter longitudinal edge of the member 22 define therebetween a somewhat V-shaped notch 35' adapted to receive acorrespondingly shaped portion 31' of the member bounding the female connecting portion 36 at its narrowest side and running along the mitred edge 34. To effect the desired interlocking of two perpendicular abutted frame side members 22, each of the same is provided in its male connecting portion 35 with a plurality of apertures 37 (three are shown) and in its female connecting portion with a like number of upstanding pins or studs 38. Both the apertures 37 and the pins 38 are tapered (FIG. 7) to facilitate fitting the former into the latter. As shown in FIG. 7, however, the spacing of the centerlines of the apertures 37 from the outwardly facing side edge 35a of the male connecting portion 35 is slightly greater, on the order of a few thousandths of an inch, than the spacing of the centerlines of the pins 38 from the corresponding side wall 36a of the female connecting portion 36. Consequently, when the two connecting portions are being interfitted, a camming action is exerted on the male connecting portion 35 which forces the same laterally into tight frictional contact with the said side wall 36a so as to effect a tight interlocking of the respective frame side members. This result is, of course, also aided by the fact that the abutting mitred edges 33 and 34 of the two frame side members 22 are undercut in opposite senses. As previously mentioned, if desired the abutting side members may be permanently joined to one another by the application of any suitable cement or solvent to the respective mitred edges 33 and 34 or by means of any other suitable bonding technique.

Reverting to FIG. 5, it will be seen that one of the screw-receiving holes 28 in each frame side member is located on the male connecting portion 35 thereof in alignment with those apertures 37 which are formed in the respective portion of the surface 30. Thus, when the frame is assembled, one of the three holes 28 located in a line along each side of the frame and in underlying relation to the holes 27 in the associated back member 25 is constituted by the hole in the male connecting portion of the next adjacent side member (FIGS. 3 and 4). The holes 27 are preferably countersunk, as shown at 27a in FIG. 11, so that the screws 26 used to secure the back members to the frame side members will not protrude beyond the rear faces of the back members. I

The side member 22 is further provided in its surface 31 with a medially located, transversely extending, relatively shallow channel or groove 39 which extends substantially up to the base of the shoulder 32. Correspondingly, each rigid panel or insert according to the present invention is provided on its front face adjacent each of its four side edges with a respective medially located, small knob or protuberance 40 (FIGS. 6 and 8). These knobs are just slightly narrower than the grooves 39 so as to fit smoothly thereinto. It will be understood, therefore, that by virtue of the coaction of the four grooves 39 in any frame 21 with the four knobs 40 on the associated insert 23, the latter will be automatically centered relative to the frame. The grooves are elongated as shown so as to enable the frame to accommodate panels differing somewhat in size, i.e., so that the panel or insert need not extend from each shoulder 32 all the way to the opposite shoulder.

In its surface 30, each frame side member 22 is further provided with two sets of three triangulated screwreceiving holes 41 (FIGS. 3 to 5, 8 and 9) designed to enable hinges (not shown) to be affixed to the frame. Correspondingly, each back member 25 is likewise provided with two identically arranged and spaced sets of three triangulated holes 42 (FIGS. 4, 8 and 10). It will be noted that in order to provide sufficient space for the third hole 41 in each such set in each frame side member 22, the respective surface 30 thereof is enlarged somewhat at those locations, as shown at 43. Inasmuch as any given rigid panel or insert 23 may have to extend from one shoulder 32 to the opposite one, the presence of these enlargements is taken into account in the shaping of the panels or inserts, by the. formation of two recesses 44 (FIGS. 4 and 8) in each of the side edges of each such panel, of a depth sufficient to accommodate the respective enlargements 43. It will be understood, of course, that in any one door, only one side thereof will have hinges secured thereto, with the sets of holes 41 and 42 on the other three sides then being superfluous. Accordingly, the holes 42 in the back members 25, although fully illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, are actually initially formed in a fully flashed over condition, as shown in FIG. 12, so that they are invisible except where punched out to accommodate a set of hinge-retaining screws (not shown). Nevertheless, the versatility of the arrangement as far as the selection of the hinge locations is concerned will be readily apparent.

Referring further to FIG. 5, there are also provided in the surface 30 of each frame side member 22, over and above the screw-receiving holes 28 and 41, a group of three additional screw-receiving holes 45 arranged in a longitudinal line in the middle region of the member 22, and two groups of two holes 46 each in each end region of the member, latter holes being in longitudinal alignment with the holes 45. The purpose of these holes and of the corresponding groups of holes 47 and 48 (FIGS. 4, 8 and 10) in the back members will be more fully explained hereinafter. As in the case of the holes 42, however, the holes 47 and 48 in the back members are formed in flashed over condition and will normally be invisible (see FIG. 6, for example) except when punched out for use.

To facilitate proper location of the back members 25 and the holes therein relative to their associated frame side members 22 and the respective holes in the latter, there are further provided in the surface 30.0f each side member two longitudinal slots 49 adapted to receive corresponding ribs or like projections 50 (FIGS. 8 and 10) formed on the back members 25. It should be noted that, like the mitred edges 33 and 34 of the frame side members 22, the mitred edges 51 and 52 of the back members are also undercut in opposite senses, as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 10 at 51a and 52a, to enhance the interfitting of the back members and the stability of the system upon assembly thereof.

As previously mentioned, it is contemplated by the present invention that in lieu of rigid inserts, flexible inserts 23a (FIG. 14) such as curtain arrangements may be used with a frame 21 to form a panel structure 20a. To this end, each frame side member 22 is further provided in the region of its edge 33 with two perpendicularly oriented notches or like recesses 53 and 54 (see especially FIGS. 3 and 9), one disposed in the extension section of the shoulder 32 located in the male connecting portion 35, and the other disposed in the adja cent main section of the shoulder 32 just short of the edge 33. As clearly shown in FIG. 14, when the frame is assembled, the insert 23a can be secured to the frame by simply fitting the opposite ends of the two curtain rods 55 thereof into the respective opposed pairs of recesses 53-54. In the event the curtain type of insert is to be used in a static environment, eg as a stationary front panel structure in an article of furniture, rather than in a dynamic environment such as is constituted by a door, the provision of the back members 25 actually may be dispensed with. On the other hand, if desired, the back members 25 may be screwed onto the frame side members 22 as hereinabove described, irrespective of the nature of the environment in which the structure 20a is to be used.

The structures 20 and 20a so far described are relatively large, for example 12 inches X 12 inches and larger, such as would normally be used for cabinet doors, decorative panels in various articles of furniture, etc. Thus, all the various frame side members are in all respects absolutely identical in construction except possibly for size. Drawer fronts, however, as shown at 20b in FIG. 15, are normally considerably narrower in their vertical than in their horizontal dimension, so that the vertical side members 22a must be relatively short in comparison to the horizontal side members 22. Such a short frame side member 22a and a corresponding back member 25a are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5A and 58. With the exceptions to be noted below, the side member 22a, it will be seen, is basically of the same construction and configuration as the longer side member 22 shown in FIG. 5, having a flange 29, two stepped surfaces 30 and 31 and an intermediate shoulder 32, mitred edges 33 and 34 undercut in opposite senses at 33a and 340, respectively, a male connecting portion 35 with tapered apertures 37 therein, and a corresponding female connecting portion 36 with tapered pins or studs 38 therein. One exception is that, because of its small size, the member 22a has only two holes 28 for receiving the screws to hold the back members in place, and the back member 25a, because of its size, also has only two countersunk holes 27. Another exception is that since the frame 21a will never be hinged on its short sides or utilize a curtain-type insert, there is no need for the member 22a to have either the holes 41 or the notches 53 and 54. In a drawer front frame, moreover, the insert will always be full size, i.e., it will extend from each shoulder 32 to the opposite one, so that the insert-centering grooves 39 are not needed. correspondingly, the inserts 23b for drawer fronts will be made without the knobs 40 provided on the larger inserts 23. Also, by virtue of the small size of the back members 25a, the locating slots 49 are not needed, and correspondingly, the back members will be made without the ribs 50. Finally, the additional groups of screw-receiving holes 45 and 46 are neither required nor provided in the frame side member 22a,

and neither are the corresponding holes 47 and 48 in the back member 25a, for reasons which will presently become clear. Nevertheless, within the purview of the present invention the various frame side members are substantially identical despite such variations in detail and size, and the term identical Wherever used herein should be interpreted in this broader sense rather than in its usual more restricted sense of absolute identity without any possibility of variations.

Referring now to FIGS. 16 and 17, it is contemplated by the present invention that multi-section structures 20c constituted of two or more single-section structures 20 (or 20a) may be produced, for example for use as a broom closet door or the like. It is for the purpose of facilitating the interconnection of the several singlesection structures 20 to form the unitary multi-section structure 20c that the screw-receiving holes 45 and 46 in the frame side members 22 and the corresponding holes 47 and 48 in the associated back members are provided. The interconnection, as clearly shown in FIG. 17, is effected by means of an elongated horizontal brace plate 56 bridging the overlying central groups of holes 45 and 47 in the proximate sides of the side-toside abutting frames 21, and a pair of elongated vertical brace plates 57 overlying the respective corner groups of holes 46 and 48, the various brace plates being provided with corresponding holes and being secured to the abutting structures by means of screws 58 and 59.

It will be understood that the multi-section concept represented in FIGS. 16 and 17 is not limited to a single-line arrangement of structures 20 as shown, but may be embodied in a structure having plural sections in both the vertical and horizontal directions (not The invention also contemplates that some of the interlocking features of the frame sidemembers 22 may be modified somewhat for purposes of simplicity. Thus, as shown for two side members 22 in FIG. 13, the mitred edges 33 and 34 thereof lack the undercuts 33a and 34a shown in FIGS. and 9. Also, the male and female connecting portions 35" and 36" are formed without the cooperating notch 35' and projection 31 and only two apertures 37 and pins 38 are provided. It will be clear, of course, that not all of these variations need be made jointly in any given side .member.

The advantages accruing from the implementation of the present invention will be readily apparent from the foregoing. Thus, any of the frame side members herein disclosed can be used interchangeably as either a stile (an upright) or a rail (a cross-piece). Moreover, since the injection molding thereof ensures that all such members will be compatible with each other, a selection of only 30 different sizes of frame side members,

with the two smallest being 4.75 inches and 5.5 inches in length and the rest ranging in length from 6 inches to 33 inches in increments of 1 inches, can serve for the creation of as many as 870 different door and drawer front sizes. By the same token, a selection of only 31 insert sizes, ranging in desired combinations from 2.75 inches to 17 inches wide and from 5.5 inches to 29 inches long, serves to accommodate 369 different door and drawer front sizes. The inserts, not being required to hold screws and support any loads, canbe made of almost any available synthetic plastic material, including polyurethane, and of such other materials as wood, metal, particle board covered with laminar plastic, paper, or other decorative sheeting (e.g. Formica), curtain fabric, etc. Likewise, the relatively thin, sheetlike back members, not being required to hold screws and support any loads, can be made of injection molded high impact polystyrene or other synthetic plastics. The frame side members, on the other hand, will have to be formed so as to have the requisite strength and screw-holding properties as well as dimensional stability and accuracy.

It will be understood that the foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention is for purposes of illustration only, and that the various structural and operational features herein disclosed are susceptible to a number of modifications and changes none of which entailsany departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the hereto appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. A side member for a centrally open, square or rectangular frame of a door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture; said side member comprising:

a. an injection molded body of synthetic plastic material, said body having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end of said body to the other to face inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of a completed frame upon the latter being formed of four such side members,

b. said body being provided at one of its ends with a male connecting portion in the form of a tonguelike structure projecting from said body and at its other end with a female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said body and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said recess being adapted to receive the tonguelike structure of another similarly constructedside member,

c. said male and female connecting portions being provided with respective parts in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of said body within the confines of said recess, said apertures in said tongue-like structure being adapted to interfit cooperatively with the corresponding pins, respectively, in the recess of another similarly constructed side member when the two side members are abutted against one another, for locking such abutted side members together, and

d. said body being longitudinally shouldered at said back face intermediate said first and second edges to define a lower section adjacent said first edge 'and a higher section adjacent said second edge,

whereby upon assembly of four such side members to complete a frame, there is defined at the back of the frame a depressed region which peripherally bounds the central opening of the frame and is adapted to receive within its confines the marginal regions of a panel-like insert the major portion of which overlies said central opening from the back of said frame.

2. A frame side member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing of said apertures from that boundary edge of said tongue-like structure which faces away from said body endwise of the latter is slightly greater than the spacing of said pins from the boundary edge of said recess formed in said higher section and closest to said second edge of said body, whereby upon assembly of each two abutting side members, a camming action will be exerted on said tongue-like structure of one of them entering said recess of the other to force said two side members into tightly interlocked relation with each other.

3. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end edges of said body are mitred inwardly from said second edge to said first edge.

4. A frame side member as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body is undercut in opposite senses at said mitred end edges thereof.

5. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with at least one set of molded-in screwreceiving holes for the attachment of an adjunct of a hinge.

6. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of molded-in screwreceiving holes for the attachment of an insertretaining back member in a position in which a portion of the latter will overlie said lower section of said back face.

7. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with at least one molded-in recess adapted to receive a corresponding projection on such a back member for precisely locating the latter on said body.

8. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided along said second edge thereof with a longitudinal flange extending upwardly relative to said higher section of said back face, the height of said flange being substantially equal to the thickness of a back member to be attached to said body.

9. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of at least one brace plate adapted to secure said body to another one disposed adjacent thereto with the two second edges thereof in engagement with one another.

10. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said lower section of said back face thereof with a transverse media] slot or groove adapted to receive a medial projection on an insert to be secured to the frame for self-centering of the insert in a completed frame.

11. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shoulder between said higher and lower sections of said back face of said body has a short portion located in the region of said tongue-like structure and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the main portion of said shoulder, and said body is further provided in said main portion of said shoulder adjacent the juncture between the two shoulder portions with a first curtain rod-receiving recess which faces said first edge of said body, and in said short portion of said shoulder adjacent the juncture between the two shoulder portions with a second curtain rodreceiving recess which faces along said body toward the opposite end thereof.

12. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a second body identical to said firstnamed body and injection molded therewith as an integral unit in back to back relation, with the two second edges being common, and with the' tongue-like structure of each of said bodies being located at the same end of the composite frame member as the recess of the other of said bodies.

13. A frame side member as claimed in claim 12, wherein the end edges of each of said bodies are mitred inwardly from said common second edge to the respective first edge.

14. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture, comprising:

a. a square or rectangular frame defining a central opening and including four injection molded side members of synthetic plastic material and substantially identical construction,

b. each of said side members having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one of the opposite ends of that side member to the other and facing inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of the frame,

c. each of said side members being provided at said one end thereof with a male connecting portion in the form of a projecting tongue-like structure and at said other end thereof with a corresponding fe male connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said side member and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said side members being in abutting relation with each other at their opposite ends, with said tonguelike structure of each side member being received within said recess of the next adjacent abutting side member,

01. each pair of interfitted male and female connecting portions being provided with cooperative interfitting parts, in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of the respective side member within the confines of said recess, locking the respective abutted side members together,

e. said side members being longitudinally shouldered at their respective back faces intermediate said first and second edges to define, upon assembly of said side members, a higher section extending around said frame adjacent said second edges and a lower section extending around said frame adjacent said first edges, thereby to provide a depressed region peripherally bounding said central opening, and a panel-like insert overlying said central opening from the back of said frame, with the marginal regions of said insert received within said depressed region, and being removably retained in place in said frame.

15. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture, comprising:

a. a square or rectangular frame defining a central opening and including four injection molded side members of synthetic plastic material and substantially identical construction,

b. each of said side members having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one of the opposite ends of that side member to the other and facing inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of the frame,

c. each of said side members being provided at said one end thereof with a male connecting portion in the form of a projecting tongue-like structure and at said other end thereof with a corresponding female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said side member and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said side members being in abutting relation with each other at their opposite ends, with said tongue-like structure of each side member being received within said recess of the next adjacent abutting side member,

d. each pair of interfitted male and female connecting portions being provided with cooperative interfitting parts, in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and-a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of the respective side member within the confines of said recess,

locking the respective abutted side members together, e. said side members being longitudinally shouldered at their respective back faces intermediate said first and second edges to define, upon assembly of said side members, a higher section extending around said frame adjacent said second edges and a lower section extending around said frame adjacent said first edges, thereby to provide a depressed region peripherally bounding said central opening, a panel-like insert overlying said central opening from the back of said frame, with the marginal regions of said insert received within said depressed region, and g. four substantially identical injection molded back members of synthetic plastic material, said back members corresponding in configuration and size to said side members, respectively, and being releasably secured to the same at said higher sections of said back faces thereof, said back members extending inwardly of said frame over said depressed region and said marginal regions of said insert received therein and removably retaining said insert in place in said frame.

16. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said panel-like insert is in the form of a stiff panel.

17. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said panel-like insert is in the form of a flexible curtain.

18. In combination, a side member for a centrally open, square or rectangular frame of a door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture adapted to have a panel-like insert overlying thebentral opening from the back of the frame, and a back member adapted to be secured to said side member. for retaining said insert on said side member;

A. said side member comprising i. an injection molded body of synthetic plastic material, said body having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end of said body to the other to face inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of a completed frame upon the latter being formed of four such side members,

ii. said body being provided at one of its ends with a male connecting portion in the form of a tongue-like structure projecting from said body and at its other end with a female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said body and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said recess being adapted to receive the tonguelike structure of another similarly constructed side member,

iii. said male and female connecting portions being provided with respective parts in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of said body within the confines of said recess, said apertures in said tongue-like structure being adapted to interfit cooperatively with the corresponding pins, respectively, in the recess of another similarly constructed side member when the -two side members are abutted against one another, for locking such abutted side members together,

iv. said bodybeing longitudinally shouldered at said back face intermediate said first and second edges to define a lower section adjacent said first edge and a higher section adjacent saidsecond edge, whereby upon assembly of four such side members to complete a frame, there is defined at the back of the frame a depressed region which peripherally bounds the centralopening of the frame and is adapted to receive within its confines the marginal regions of said insert, and

v. said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of first molded-in screw-receiving holes for enabling attachment of said back member to said body; and

B. said back member comprising i. a plate-shaped structure having the same peripheral configuration and size as said body of said side member but no protruding tongue-like structure and recess, so that a portion of said plateshaped structure, when attached to said body, will extend over said lower section of said back face of said body and will overlie at least a part of the marginal region of said insert when the same is received in said depressed region of the completed frame, ane

ii. said plate-shaped structure being provided with a plurality of first screw shank-passing apertures corresponding in number and arrangement to said first screw-receiving holes in said body of said side member.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said body of said side member is provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of second molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of an adjunct of a hinge, and said plate-shaped structure is provided with a correspondingly arranged plurality of second screw shank-passing apertures.

20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said body of said side member is further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of third molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of at least one brace plate adapted to secure such 14 a side member to another one identical therewith and disposed adjacent thereto with the two second edges thereof in engagement with one-another, and said plate-shaped structure is provided with a correspondingly arranged plurality of third screw shank-passing apertures.

21. The combination of claim 20, wherein said second and third screw shank-passing apertures in said plate shaped structure are formed in flashed-over condition and can be selectively punched through preparatory to being used. 

1. A side member for a centrally open, square or rectangular frame of a door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture; said side member comprising: a. an injection molded body of synthetic plastic material, said body having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end of said body to the other to face inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of a completed frame upon the latter being formed of four such side members, b. said body being provided at one of its ends with a male connecting portion in the form of a tongue-like structure projecting from said body and at its other end with a female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said body and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said recess being adapted to receive the tonguelike structure of another similarly constructed side member, c. said male and female connecting portions being provided with respective parts in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of said body within the confines of said recess, said apertures in said tongue-like structure being adapted to interfit cooperatively with the corresponding pins, respectively, in the recess of another similarly constructed side member when the two side members are abutted against one another, for locking such abutted side members together, and d. said body being longitudinally shouldered at said back face intermediate said first and second edges to define a lower section adjacent said first edge and a higher section adjacent said second edge, whereby upon assembly of four such side members to complete a frame, there is defined at the back of the frame a depressed region which peripherally bounds the central opening of the frame and is adapted to receive within its confines the marginal regions of a panel-like insert the major portion of which overlies said central opening from the back of said frame.
 2. A frame side member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacing of said apertures from that boundary edge of said tongue-like structure which faces away from said body endwise of the latter is slightly greater than the spacing of said pins from the boundary edge of said recess formed in said higher section and closest to said second edge of said body, whereby upon assembly of each two abutting side members, a camming action will be exerted on said tongue-like structure of one of them entering said recess of the other to force said two side members into tightly interlocked relation with each other.
 3. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the end edges of said body are mitred inwardly from said second edge to said first edge.
 4. A frame side member as claimed in claim 3, wherein said body is undercut in opposite senses at said mitred end edges thereof.
 5. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof witH at least one set of molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of an adjunct of a hinge.
 6. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of an insert-retaining back member in a position in which a portion of the latter will overlie said lower section of said back face.
 7. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with at least one molded-in recess adapted to receive a corresponding projection on such a back member for precisely locating the latter on said body.
 8. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided along said second edge thereof with a longitudinal flange extending upwardly relative to said higher section of said back face, the height of said flange being substantially equal to the thickness of a back member to be attached to said body.
 9. A frame side member as claimed in claim 6, said body being further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of at least one brace plate adapted to secure said body to another one disposed adjacent thereto with the two second edges thereof in engagement with one another.
 10. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, said body being provided in said lower section of said back face thereof with a transverse medial slot or groove adapted to receive a medial projection on an insert to be secured to the frame for self-centering of the insert in a completed frame.
 11. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shoulder between said higher and lower sections of said back face of said body has a short portion located in the region of said tongue-like structure and extending transversely to the longitudinal direction of the main portion of said shoulder, and said body is further provided in said main portion of said shoulder adjacent the juncture between the two shoulder portions with a first curtain rod-receiving recess which faces said first edge of said body, and in said short portion of said shoulder adjacent the juncture between the two shoulder portions with a second curtain rod-receiving recess which faces along said body toward the opposite end thereof.
 12. A frame side member as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a second body identical to said first-named body and injection molded therewith as an integral unit in back to back relation, with the two second edges being common, and with the tongue-like structure of each of said bodies being located at the same end of the composite frame member as the recess of the other of said bodies.
 13. A frame side member as claimed in claim 12, wherein the end edges of each of said bodies are mitred inwardly from said common second edge to the respective first edge.
 14. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture, comprising: a. a square or rectangular frame defining a central opening and including four injection molded side members of synthetic plastic material and substantially identical construction, b. each of said side members having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one of the opposite ends of that side member to the other and facing inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of the frame, c. each of said side members being provided at said one end thereof with a male connecting portion in the form of a projecting tongue-like structure and at said other end thereof with a corresponding female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said side member and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said side members being in abutting relation with each other at their opposite ends, with said tonguelike structure of each side member being receivEd within said recess of the next adjacent abutting side member, d. each pair of interfitted male and female connecting portions being provided with cooperative interfitting parts, in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of the respective side member within the confines of said recess, locking the respective abutted side members together, e. said side members being longitudinally shouldered at their respective back faces intermediate said first and second edges to define, upon assembly of said side members, a higher section extending around said frame adjacent said second edges and a lower section extending around said frame adjacent said first edges, thereby to provide a depressed region peripherally bounding said central opening, and f. a panel-like insert overlying said central opening from the back of said frame, with the marginal regions of said insert received within said depressed region, and being removably retained in place in said frame.
 15. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture, comprising: a. a square or rectangular frame defining a central opening and including four injection molded side members of synthetic plastic material and substantially identical construction, b. each of said side members having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one of the opposite ends of that side member to the other and facing inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of the frame, c. each of said side members being provided at said one end thereof with a male connecting portion in the form of a projecting tongue-like structure and at said other end thereof with a corresponding female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said side member and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said side members being in abutting relation with each other at their opposite ends, with said tongue-like structure of each side member being received within said recess of the next adjacent abutting side member, d. each pair of interfitted male and female connecting portions being provided with cooperative interfitting parts, in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of the respective side member within the confines of said recess, locking the respective abutted side members together, e. said side members being longitudinally shouldered at their respective back faces intermediate said first and second edges to define, upon assembly of said side members, a higher section extending around said frame adjacent said second edges and a lower section extending around said frame adjacent said first edges, thereby to provide a depressed region peripherally bounding said central opening, f. a panel-like insert overlying said central opening from the back of said frame, with the marginal regions of said insert received within said depressed region, and g. four substantially identical injection molded back members of synthetic plastic material, said back members corresponding in configuration and size to said side members, respectively, and being releasably secured to the same at said higher sections of said back faces thereof, said back members extending inwardly of said frame over said depressed region and said marginal regions of said insert received therein and removably retaining said insert in place in said frame.
 16. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said panel-like insert is in the form of a stiff panel.
 17. A door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture as claimed in claim 15, wherein said panel-like insert is in the form of a fLexible curtain.
 18. In combination, a side member for a centrally open, square or rectangular frame of a door, drawer front or like component of a cabinet, closet or article of furniture adapted to have a panel-like insert overlying the central opening from the back of the frame, and a back member adapted to be secured to said side member for retaining said insert on said side member; A. said side member comprising i. an injection molded body of synthetic plastic material, said body having front and back faces and having first and second longitudinal edges extending from one end of said body to the other to face inwardly and outwardly, respectively, of a completed frame upon the latter being formed of four such side members, ii. said body being provided at one of its ends with a male connecting portion in the form of a tongue-like structure projecting from said body and at its other end with a female connecting portion in the form of a recess provided at said back face of said body and corresponding in configuration and size to said tongue-like structure, said recess being adapted to receive the tongue-like structure of another similarly constructed side member, iii. said male and female connecting portions being provided with respective parts in the form of a plurality of apertures in said tongue-like structure and a like plurality of correspondingly contoured and distributed upstanding pins on said back face of said body within the confines of said recess, said apertures in said tongue-like structure being adapted to interfit cooperatively with the corresponding pins, respectively, in the recess of another similarly constructed side member when the two side members are abutted against one another, for locking such abutted side members together, iv. said body being longitudinally shouldered at said back face intermediate said first and second edges to define a lower section adjacent said first edge and a higher section adjacent said second edge, whereby upon assembly of four such side members to complete a frame, there is defined at the back of the frame a depressed region which peripherally bounds the central opening of the frame and is adapted to receive within its confines the marginal regions of said insert, and v. said body being provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of first molded-in screw-receiving holes for enabling attachment of said back member to said body; and B. said back member comprising i. a plate-shaped structure having the same peripheral configuration and size as said body of said side member but no protruding tongue-like structure and recess, so that a portion of said plate-shaped structure, when attached to said body, will extend over said lower section of said back face of said body and will overlie at least a part of the marginal region of said insert when the same is received in said depressed region of the completed frame, ane ii. said plate-shaped structure being provided with a plurality of first screw shank-passing apertures corresponding in number and arrangement to said first screw-receiving holes in said body of said side member.
 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said body of said side member is provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of second molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of an adjunct of a hinge, and said plate-shaped structure is provided with a correspondingly arranged plurality of second screw shank-passing apertures.
 20. The combination of claim 19, wherein said body of said side member is further provided in said higher section of said back face thereof with a plurality of third molded-in screw-receiving holes for the attachment of at least one brace plate adapted to secure such a side member to another one identical therewith and disposed adjacent thereto with the two second edges thereof in engagement with one another, and said plate-shaped structure is provided with a correspondinglY arranged plurality of third screw shank-passing apertures.
 21. The combination of claim 20, wherein said second and third screw shank-passing apertures in said plate-shaped structure are formed in flashed-over condition and can be selectively punched through preparatory to being used. 